tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post841903488345357100..comments2015-03-31T16:17:15.345-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: THURSDAY, Dec. 20, 2007 - Peter A. CollinsRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24309272861117171332008-02-01T00:32:00.000-05:002008-02-01T00:32:00.000-05:00After getting the theme as far as "same first lett...After getting the theme as far as "same first letter", I figured where it was going without the exact last phrase. It sure was fun to race through all my unfinished entries in the lower third and fill in the first letter from the clue!<BR/><BR/>Maybe "ye gods!" could have been a clue for "yipes!".andersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-57985839636803923702008-01-31T19:51:00.000-05:002008-01-31T19:51:00.000-05:0034 A: MC______ RENRemember the rap group NWA (Nigg...34 A: MC______ REN<BR/><BR/>Remember the rap group NWA <BR/>(Niggaz With Attitude) that did the song F___ THA POLICE!<BR/><BR/>Read more about them here:<BR/><BR/>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N.W.A.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24478647407496640422008-01-31T17:07:00.000-05:002008-01-31T17:07:00.000-05:006wl...What a duh! moment: "Beginning for metric - ...6wl...<BR/><BR/>What a duh! moment: "Beginning for metric - BARO" (49D). Got it from crosses and looked at it and googled it and looked at it again and read this whole collection of comments. And then looked at it one more time and finally got it. Whoa... <BR/><BR/>Pleased to be completing Thursday puzzles and liked this one.<BR/><BR/>- - RobertAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24193921186863440982007-12-21T12:34:00.000-05:002007-12-21T12:34:00.000-05:00DAWES was in the news lately because he's one of t...DAWES was in the news lately because he's one of two vice-presidents to win the Nobel peace prize. The other you know.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122196944080584625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-11916030228375947222007-12-21T02:13:00.000-05:002007-12-21T02:13:00.000-05:00Love this clue.They catch flies = TROUT. Loved th...Love this clue.<BR/><BR/>They catch flies = TROUT. <BR/><BR/>Loved this puzzle. Bravo, Peter.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13344840390394773641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-58570066611568652692007-12-20T23:50:00.000-05:002007-12-20T23:50:00.000-05:00nifty crostic, nit!;-)j.nifty crostic, nit!<BR/><BR/>;-)<BR/><BR/>j.jlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15129173620859824730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-19618898504925473522007-12-20T22:42:00.000-05:002007-12-20T22:42:00.000-05:00parshutr: Graf is still a title in German. It was ...parshutr: Graf is still a title in German. It was a fun puzzle, but easy for a Thursday. Learned about Dawes and Nanna!macnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-53327159998519320382007-12-20T22:29:00.000-05:002007-12-20T22:29:00.000-05:00perfect construction.extra credit for four 15-lett...perfect construction.<BR/>extra credit for four 15-letter clues.<BR/>terrific idea<BR/>excellently executed<BR/>rating: 10!<BR/><BR/>clever cluing of theme entries<BR/>one of a kind<BR/>level of cluing was just right<BR/>liked the yowzer part as well<BR/>initially confounded<BR/>nice work!<BR/>silly me for trying to be cute!<BR/><BR/><BR/>npnitpickernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56032049709459901962007-12-20T22:21:00.000-05:002007-12-20T22:21:00.000-05:00brilliant construction. very impressive to mebrilliant construction. very impressive to meshelby. montclair, njnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-55923322009036973582007-12-20T21:50:00.000-05:002007-12-20T21:50:00.000-05:00You already said you didn't like it once. I reckon...You already said you didn't like it once. I reckon that's enough.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52449471185077847082007-12-20T21:49:00.000-05:002007-12-20T21:49:00.000-05:00Reckon I stand alone in finding this a very disapp...Reckon I stand alone in finding this a very disappointing puzzle. In retrospect, it's mostly from the clue standpoint. Three or four obscurities, and the rest pedestrian. Exit's opposite, Aid in crime, e.g.? These are too drab for a Thursday, regardless of the novelty of the conceit.Fergushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-56014843234707063262007-12-20T21:00:00.000-05:002007-12-20T21:00:00.000-05:00Rex, that link you just posted—the next paragraph ...Rex, that link you just posted—the next paragraph includes the most implausible name, Vice Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee. If you ever tire of the Rex Parker pseudonym, Sir Doveton Sturdee stands at the ready.Orangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-31897330236490260272007-12-20T20:14:00.000-05:002007-12-20T20:14:00.000-05:00Clue doesn't say "commanded."According to this, th...Clue doesn't say "commanded."<BR/><BR/>According to <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMS_Scharnhorst" REL="nofollow">this</A>, the SMS Scharnhorst was "Admiral Maximilian von Spee's flagship in the German East Asian Cruiser Squadron."<BR/><BR/>For god's sake, do you honestly think this stuff hasn't been vetted? Think (or at least Google) before you speak.<BR/><BR/>rpRex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-36242263436832974702007-12-20T20:03:00.000-05:002007-12-20T20:03:00.000-05:00Fooey!! Graf never commanded the Scharnhorst. The ...Fooey!! <BR/><BR/>Graf never commanded the Scharnhorst. The Graf Spee was a different ship. In fact there were two different Graf Soees, one of which was never completed.puzzlemenschnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-39733278500312559422007-12-20T19:51:00.000-05:002007-12-20T19:51:00.000-05:00I enjoyed this puzzle a lot after I figured out th...I enjoyed this puzzle a lot after I figured out the theme. But I was about two-thirds through before I figured it out. After that, of course, I finished very quickly.<BR/><BR/>This must have been fun to construct.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04700426644898924644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-26121035732026922092007-12-20T19:02:00.000-05:002007-12-20T19:02:00.000-05:00Well, I thought this was a most insipid puzzle, wi...Well, I thought this was a most insipid puzzle, with a tedious theme and a pattern pf dull, dull clues. The worst Thurdsday gimmick in a long time, except when there wasn't one. Maybe I grouse about this puzzle because I did it as a passenger in a car going over to San Jose -- that means a lot of lurching, so perhaps this is just transferred car sickness.Fergushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-17579521412316327432007-12-20T18:22:00.000-05:002007-12-20T18:22:00.000-05:00Oh, this one was a hoot! I didn't figure out the ...Oh, this one was a hoot! I didn't figure out the theme until about 3/4 of the way through, and then it just flew. I was wondering about the somewhat stilted phrasing of some of the clues...<BR/><BR/>My last letter was the intersection of NANNA and ANA. The only female I associate with Balder is Karnilla Frost, from the old THOR comics. I know I've seen ANA before, but it just wasnt coming to me until I did the brute force thing (trying every letter).<BR/><BR/>Casey, I'm stunned that it's been THIRTY YEARS since the plane crash that ended Lynyrd Skynyrd.<BR/><BR/>"She's Funny Way That Way" is a bit condescending in that way Sinatra could be, but it's a great vocal performance.billnuttnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-21418006706803916842007-12-20T17:16:00.000-05:002007-12-20T17:16:00.000-05:00Wowee wow wow (yipes)! This puzzle was the most fu...Wowee wow wow (yipes)! This puzzle was the most fun! I loved that it took me three-quarters of the way to get it and then I got to use the theme to help me get the answers I didn't have. Very cool. And very much fun. <BR/><BR/>Rex, your write up was also superswell and I'm continuing to be bowled over by Emily's art.Rikkinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-43264059293316396802007-12-20T16:41:00.000-05:002007-12-20T16:41:00.000-05:00I was just so excited to see a Lynyrd Skynyrd clue...I was just so excited to see a Lynyrd Skynyrd clue. As a longtime fan of the band, think it would make an excellent answer (CLUE: Southern Rock band from Jacksonville) with those tricky "y"s.<BR/><BR/>"Am I Losin'" is one of the great, yet not very well know songs by the band. Of course their popular hits include "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Freebird", but "Am I Losin'" is from their second album "Nuthin' Fancy". It's a great message song about how friendships change. <BR/><BR/>The original band Lynyrd Skynyrd took their name by tweaking the name of their hated high school gym teacher - Leonard Skinner. A number of the band members, including the lead singer and one of the writers of "Am I Losin'" - Ronnie Van Zant - perished in a plane crash on October 20, 1977.Caseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07684720665514421394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-89291602566804394322007-12-20T16:23:00.000-05:002007-12-20T16:23:00.000-05:00I was tired last night as I sat down to the puzzle...I was tired last night as I sat down to the puzzle and figured I would not have a good time at all, but the lively cluing and the terrific theme really invigorated me. I finished the puzzle and had to sit and look back at all the clue and fill combinations. Probably one of the most enjoyable puzzles I've seen for a while.<BR/><BR/>I too figured out the NANNA/DAWES crossing by sheer probability. Both were entirely new entries to my lexicon.paul in mnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-84402083771141987222007-12-20T15:35:00.000-05:002007-12-20T15:35:00.000-05:00Everyentrythatsinthegridhasthesatisfactiongotothec...Everyentrythats<BR/>inthegridhasthe<BR/>satisfactiongoto<BR/>theconstructor<BR/>beforethesolverChip Ahoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597726289890879627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-40477806597532542842007-12-20T15:09:00.001-05:002007-12-20T15:09:00.001-05:00fun puzzle and no googlingfun puzzle and no googlingchefbeanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-37466127875778020362007-12-20T15:09:00.000-05:002007-12-20T15:09:00.000-05:00That was a really fun one! My horrible cross was ...That was a really fun one! My horrible cross was ANA and NANNA. Lost a couple minutes there...<BR/><BR/>Commenter who asked for Rex to post his times: I'd love it too, but I somehow doubt that's going to happen.<BR/><BR/>But Rex, can you tell us your handle in the NYT applet? It's easy to spot other CrossWorld luminaries on the "Fastest" list, but I never see a handle obviously based on either "Rex Parker" or your real name...<BR/><BR/>(If anyone else knows, don't post it - if Rex wanted to share, he would, and we're kinda prying here. Said the anonymous poster.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86026128080920012182007-12-20T13:55:00.000-05:002007-12-20T13:55:00.000-05:00I figured out he theme with all but the NE and Nw ...I figured out he theme with all but the NE and Nw corners completely filled. It therefore helped me with Losin and Latina (which until I got the L from the theme, I wanted to be senora so badly I just left it blank) and Daft, olla and sax. I thought it was great fun and the construction was genious.profphilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-24747259476581313302007-12-20T13:52:00.001-05:002007-12-20T13:52:00.001-05:00I often solve the downs first, so after about a mi...I often solve the downs first, so after about a minute I noticed that everything I'd filled in at the top had matching first letters. I said, "WTF," thinking it was an odd coincidence, then realized it must be the puzzle construction.<BR/><BR/>Needless to say, solving the rest of the puzzle was a bizarre breeze for a Thursday, or any other day. The only snag was the same one you had, Rex. Couldn't get those even with the first letters intact. Anyway, loved the AHA moment. As fun, or funner, than a rebus AHA.wendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06899889818724088564noreply@blogger.com